Fascinating Ordinary

fascinatingordinary

We’re Jennifer Dudley and Abby Jorgensen, two sociologist moms whose lives (like our toddlers) revolve around curiosity. In each episode, we go down a rabbit hole about some aspect ordinary life that is actually fascinating. We hope you’ll come along for the ride!

Episodes

  1. 03/08/2023

    Happiness

    Abby and Jennifer talk about common happiness myths, evaluate advice on happiness from popular media, and offer some practical tips for everyday happiness. They also offer a farewell and wrap up for this last episode of season 1 of Fascinating Ordinary. Digressions include: Jennifer angles for a Target sponsorship Abby pokes fun at Maslow and his hierarchy We debate the value of putting Danes on a pedestal  Abby’s ties to the bagpipe community Art versus nature Resources and Links 10 Practical Ways to Improve Happiness For when you need advice that goes beyond “Be Danish” By Arthur C. Brooks Atlantic How to Build A Life  NY Times 7 Day Happiness Challenge  NY Times Awe Can Improve Your Life  Does Spending Money on Others Promote Happiness?: A Registered Replication Report  Does savoring increase happiness? A daily diary study   How Spending Influences Happiness  Hedonic Adaptation: Why You Are Not Happier  Jennifer also recommends going to your local library or used book store to find The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through Big Questions of Happiness, Faith, and Meaning by Paul Blaschko and Meghan Sullivan   Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  2. 02/22/2023

    Comfort Food

    In this episode, Jennifer and Abby talk about comfort food and grief. They talk about popular ideas of comfort food, the science behind food rituals as comforting, and present a few grief food rituals from around the world. The episode covers grieving rituals, funerals, loss, and death. Therefore, the hosts urge listeners to use their discretion when deciding if this episode could be triggering.  Digression include: Hallmark movies Jennifer loses her Disney-fan crown Johnny Machete Navigating 1 TV scandal and 1 science scandal  Our sociological roots   Resources and Links Comfort food TV tropes Funeral food rituals from around the world Resources on sitting Shiva Comfort Food: A Review  Threatened Belonging and Preference for Comfort Food The Power of Rituals in Life, Death, and Business Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  3. 02/08/2023

    Sand!

    Yes, this is an episode about sand. Abby convinces Jennifer (and hopefully you, as well) that sand is actually pretty cool and that the sand shortage is actually pretty terrible.  Digressions include: Jennifer's limited knowledge of construction default law A cool service offered by Sherwin Williams The Princess Bridge Abby's secret past as a golfer Jennifer spoils the original Star Wars series Resources and links The sand shortage More on the sand shortage Sand world and Daniel Helber! Barking sand Golfing greens Anakin’s cheesy sand line Become a sand collector Best plants for sandy soil Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  4. 01/25/2023

    Feeding Big Kids

    In the second part of our series on feeding kids, Jennifer and Abby talk about picky eaters of any age. They offer some science on picking eating as well as some tactics for people trying to overcome pickiness (for themselves or their kids).  Digressions include: Abby's heartwarming tale of learning to love olives Jennifer's less heartwarming tale of learning to tolerate celery Our reasonable suspicion of fresh blueberries Snacking Do French kids really eat everything? Normal Rockwell Resources and Links Picky eating during childhood: A longitudinal study to age 11 years  Picky eating in children: Causes and consequences Feel your food. The influence of tactile sensitivity on picky eating in children  Perception of picky eating among children in Singapore and its impact on caregivers: a questionnaire survey  Parents' anxiety, depression may lead to kids being fussy eaters in 2016 What Happened To American Childhood? Too many kids show worrying signs of fragility from a very young age USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review   Jennifer also recommend checking out these books from your local library Emily Oster’s Cribsheet, particularly Chapter 12 (for all post-milk stuff) Emily Oster’s Family Firm, particularly Chapter 6 (for ages 5-12)   For parents concerned about conversations with their pediatrician:  Jennifer spoke to a professor of social work and sociology at California State University, Northridge who said that social workers and doctors are looking for evidence of neglect. Focusing on the fact that you are trying to provide nourishment to your child should not raise concerns of neglect. Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  5. 01/11/2023

    Feeding Little Kids

    In this episode, Abby teaches Jennifer all about how kids eat -- starting from two-celled organisms.  Digression include: A quick lesson on how babies are made Jennifer brags about her high school A.P. bio exam score The grossness of kneecaps References to Alien, the movie and Look Who's Talking Resources and Links Robin Elise Weiss for lactation education Womb milk Colostrum How much milk babies need CDC breastfeeding report card History of infant formula  Infant Formula Act of 1980  Baby formula shortage Look Who’s Talking Intro Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  6. 12/28/2022

    Cheese

    This episode features a little bit of a history, a touch of science, and a lot of love for cheese.  Digression include: The plot of Heidi Jennifer narrowly avoids making an enemy of Whole Foods Goat ladies Resources and Links About Elleanor Eldridge National history of cheese making  History of cheese in the Americas Timeline of cheese How an American cheese won the world championship  Swiss cows   Jennifer also recommends checking out these books at your local library or used book store: American Cheese by Joe Berkowitz The Book of Cheese: the essential guide to discovering cheeses you’ll love by Liz Thorpe Cheese, Wine, and Bread: discovering the magic of fermentation in England, Italy, and France by Katie Quinn I Heart Cheese a cookbook by Mihaela Metaxa-Albu Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  7. 12/14/2022

    Struggle

    In this episode, Abby and Jennifer explore the joy of watching others struggle. In particular, we found joy watching Jeremy Clarkson struggle in his Amazon show, Clarkson's Farm.  Digressions include:  The Three Stooges and Charlie Chaplin Jennifer's imperfect knowledge of American history Abby's recent exposure to a Disney classic Abby makes Jennifer blush Resources and Links Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon  Top Gear Farmer’s Journal interview Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  8. 11/30/2022

    Curiosity

    We talk about the driving force of the show: curiosity.  Digressions include: Octopus terminology Jennifer scandalizes Abby a bit We resist the urge to learn about cookies Disney princesses and Buzzfeed quizzes Resources and links: Why? What Makes Us Curious by Mario Livio  Five-dimensional curiosity scale Most googled questions Octopus eggs hatching Find us at https://fascinatingordinary.com/

  9. Trailer

    Introduction

    Introducing a new podcast from Abby Jorgensen and Jennifer Dudley. They are two sociologists who want to take you down some rabbit holes to learn what's fascinating about the ordinary parts of life.

Trailer

About

We’re Jennifer Dudley and Abby Jorgensen, two sociologist moms whose lives (like our toddlers) revolve around curiosity. In each episode, we go down a rabbit hole about some aspect ordinary life that is actually fascinating. We hope you’ll come along for the ride!

Information

  • Creator
    fascinatingordinary
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2023
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Fascinating Ordinary